Attachment for mail-catchers.



R. W. CRAWFORD, JR. R. H. BECK.

. ATTACHMENT POR MAIL CATCHEES.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11, 1908.

914,802. Patented Mar. 9, 1909.

wuznrogd MIL Www/mmm 1H: NaRRls rzrrns co., wlsmncra v, nA c.

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

RALPH W. CRAWFORD, JR., AND RALPH H. BECK, OF LAMAR, COLORADO.

ATTACHMENT FOR MAIL-CATGHERS.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, RALPH W. CRAWFORD, J r., and RALPH H. BECK, citizens of the United States, residing at Lamar, in the county of Prowers and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Iniprovements in Attachments for Mail-Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail catching devices, and more particularly to an attachment therefor designed to hold a mail bag securely upon a catcher arm when engaged therewith under service conditions.

Another object is to provide a mechanism which may be attached to the arm of any of the usual type of mail catching arms now in use.

Another object is to provide a device which may be manufactured at low cost from stock material.

Other` objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and it will be understood that changes in the speciiic structure shown and described may be made Within the scope of the claims, and that any suitable materials may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the mail catcher arm having the present device secured thereon, Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the fastening means for the device, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the operating arm for the device.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a mail catcher arm 10 of the usual type, midway of which there is secured a base piece 11 comprising a semi-cylindrical member tapered and closely engaged with the arm 10 by sliding movement inwardly from the end until jammed thereon, and is further secured thereto by means of a set screw 12 engaged therethrough and adapted to impinge against the arm 10. An inwardly extending bar spring 13 is carried by the base portion 11, extending divergently from the arm 1l) and having its inner end disposed adjacent to the crotch 14 and the catching arm 10. A yoke member 15 is carried to the inner end of the spring 13 having an oblong passage 16 therein slidable over the adjacent portion of the arm 10, and having an extension 17 out- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 11, 1908.

Patented March 9, 1909.

Serial No. 443,158.

wardly thereof to serve as a handle for operation of spring to engage against the side of the arm 10 to allow the disengagement of a mail bag from the crotch 111.

In operation, after the device is engaged upon a mail catching arm, as shown, it will be seen that when a mail bag is engaged by the arm it will press the spring 13 against the arm 10 and become engaged in the crotch 14, the inner end of the spring Hying out after the engagement of the bag as indicated and holding it securely against dislodgment from the catching mechanism. When it is desired to remove the bag from the arm, the operator may grasp the handle portion 17, drawing the spring downward against the arm 10 and allowing free passage of the mail bag outwardly from the crotch 14. The handle portion 17 should properly be covered with some suitable material such as rubber or fabric, in order to facilitate the operation of the device.

As shown, the device is adapted to be made integrally from sheet material, though any other desirable method may be adopted in its manufacture.

What is claimed is:

1. An attachment for mail bag catching devices, comprising a member adapted for detachable engagement with a mail catching arm, a bar spring carried by said member, and arranged to diverge inwardly from a coengaged arm, and means for deflecting said bar spring to allow disengagement of a mail bag therefrom.

2. An attachment for mail-carrying arms comprising a U-shaped member adapted for detachable engagement with a mail catching arm, a -bar spring carried thereby and ada ted to extend divergently and inwardly o a coengaged arm, and an operating handle carried by the extremity of the spring and adapted to extend outwardly of and to extend over the adjacent portion of a coengaged arm, for deflection of the spring to allow disengagement of a mail-bag from the arm.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

RALPH W. CRAWFORD, Jn. RALPH H. BECK.

Witnesses:

EARL D. BECK, MARGARET BECK. 

